What is the application process for obtaining a DTV Visa in Vientiane, Laos?

DTV Visa SUCCESS! 🎉 Vientiane, Laos.

Hey all. I just received my passport back with a DTV Visa. Feeling grateful! I thought I would make this post to document the process I took, and my current situation.

I stressed myself out to the max before applying for this visa due to the conflicting info online. It seems to vary heavily from embassy to embassy and is dependent on multiple factors.

DO NOT take my application as gospel, but hopefully there is some info in here that can help others.

Embassy I used - 🇱🇦 Vientiane, Laos

My nationality - 🇬🇧 British

Application type - 🛂 In person

Visa type - 💻 Remote work DTV

Company location - 🇦🇺 Australia

Time taken - ⏰ 3 days inc day of application

Documents I submitted ✍️

• Passport copies

• Passport photos x 2

• Previous month wage slip for July

• Upwork profile page PDF (freelance site)

• Upwork certificate of earnings (payslip)

• LinkedIn profile page PDF

• Rental contract for house rental in Thailand

• Previous years UK tax return proof

• Booking confirmation of hotel in Laos

• Copy of Laos Visa on arrival stamp in passport [they emphasized this]

• Printed out embassy appointment for Laos

• 6 months UK personal bank statement closing balance showing 500k baht, in my name

• Remote work contract from AUS company (not notarized by AUS embassy)

• Cover letter describing my documents (discarded by officer upon submission)

Day of applying:

1. I arrived outside the embassy at 8AM, 1hr before.

2. Went inside at 9AM sharp

3. First hurdle is initial document check & check that you have appointment booked (they checked email confirmation too)

4. Walked up to main counter, handed officer my document stack

5. Officer skimmed through, taking considerable notice to my bank statements

6. Officer did not ask for any further documents it was a very quick process. I could see him flicking through my docs and ticking off the checklist in his head as he went along

7. Officer asked for my passport & 10,000baht CASH (they only accepted Thai baht)

8. I submitted, and got told to come back to collect my passport today @ 1:30PM

9. Collected my passport with DTV Visa sticker 🥳

It was the most hassle free embassy experience I’ve had. Super simple and straight to the point. Much better experience than I’ve had at Thai embassy’s in other countries. Super chilled here.

BANK STATEMENTS FAQ ❓

I did NOT have 500k balance for the entirety of the past 6 months. I recently topped up my account from elsewhere to ensure the closing balance was over 500k baht (literally 2 days before applying). I circled my closing balance of this month with a pen, and converted the GBP 🇬🇧 currency to Thai baht 🇹🇭 to make it dead easy for the officers to see I had the required amount.

Good luck everyone!!

Interested to see what happens in 180 days from now, but that’s a story for another day. Got 6 months to breathe & eat Pad Krapow now. 😂

Happy to answer any questions below. 👇